Genus Sparnopolius
Sparnopolius coloradensis
The black legs and yellow halteres are noteworthy. Atypical of bombyliids, this species sometimes walks on vegetation at pond and stream sides. There are long black hairs at the edges of the last few tergites and no black pile on the front of the head.
Range: COCH, GRAH, PIMA, STCR
Occurs: Late August to Early November
Sparnopolius confusus
In this species, the body is black with considerable golden tomentum. The pile is mostly grayish white without black hairs on the abdomen and there are typically 2 submarginal cells.
Range: COCH, PIMA, PNAL, STCR
Occurs: Mid-September to Mid-November
Sparnopolius ochrobasis
Previously thought to be found only south of the U.S. border and not previously known from Arizona. It is similar to S. coloradensis but the front shows black hairs while the occiput does not. There is no black pile on T1.
Range: COCH, PIMA, PNAL, STCR
Occurs: Mid-September to Mid-October
Sparnopolius “primavera”
A distinctive, spring-flying population within this genus awaits definitive diagnosis (description in prep). Here we tentatively give it specific rank although it may well represent a weather-induced segregate of one of the species cited above. Individuals of this segregate tend to have a browner integument color, shorter and sparser pile, and of course, they fly in the spring.
Range: COCH
Occurs: Early April to Early May
Also reported from Arizona but without specific data is S. anomalus.